The meeting, which took place 9-13 September 2013, marked the first time the gathering of States Parties to the Convention has been held in Africa. President of the Treaty, Zambia, called for Africa-wide adherence to the cluster bomb ban and expressed a strong commitment to bringing all countries on board the lifesaving Treaty.

Alongside reports of progress on stockpile destruction, clearance and victim assistance, the large number of states that condemned or otherwise expressed concern about the use of cluster munitions in Syria in 2012 and 2013 was of particular note.

For more information, including daily summaries, CMC statements, press releases and links to photographs from the week, please see the CMC’s 4MSP webpage.

2013 Cluster Munition Monitor

Cluster Munition Monitor 2013 was launched at a press conference at the United Nations in Geneva on 4 September featuring ban policy editor Mary Wareham of HRW, CMC Director Sarah Blakemore, and an introduction by event host Theresa Hitchens, UNIDIR Director. During the launch, major findings and key developments for the reporting period (2012 and first half of 2013) were presented, with details of cluster munition use in Syria dominating major news reporting.

A Monitor report briefing for delegates to the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Lusaka on Tuesday 10 September featured a welcome from Blakemore and in-depth presentations by Wareham, casualties and victim assistance editor Loren Persi, clearance and contamination team leader Atle Karlsen, and final editor Jeff Abramson. Resources including profiles of every country in the world, plus maps and tables accompany the report online at www.the-monitor.org.

Saint Kitts and Nevis joins global cluster bomb ban

Mr Michael Penny, the government delegate for Saint Kitts and Nevis, with CMC Campaign Manager Amy Little, at the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Lusaka, Zambia (c) Mary Wareham, HRW

Saint Kitts and Nevis has become the latest country to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, after depositing its instrument of accession on 13 September – the final day of the week-long Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in Lusaka, Zambia.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ accession brings the total number of countries on-board the lifesaving humanitarian treaty, to 113. The Convention will enter into force for Saint Ktts and Nevis – the 84th State Party to the ban – on 1 March 2014.

Sarah Blakemore, Director of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), welcomed Syria’s accession to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention in a Huffington Post blog last month, but cited the recent cluster munition strikes in al-Tabqa and Naemeh as a poignant reminder that the Syrian government continues its horrific use of cluster munitions, amongst other banned weapons.

To date, 113 governments have spoken out against Syria's use of cluster munitions. Blakemore called on the Syrian government to take heed of this firestorm of international condemnation, immediately halt use of cluster munitions and take steps toward joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions, prioritizing the protection of civilians during and after this terrible conflict.

Outcry at US for not ruling out the use of cluster bombs in possible military strikes in Syria

Prior to international diplomatic efforts culminating in Syria acceding to the international treaty banning chemical weapons, the US had attracted international outcry by not ruling out the use of cluster bombs in possible military strikes in Syria. During the period of threatened strikes on Syria, the CMC, and its member organisations across the world, called on all countries already on-board the Convention on Cluster Munitions to help ensure these horrific weapons were not used in any military action in Syria.

US Export of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia at odds with international ban treaty

The announcement in August that the US has agreed to supply cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia is at odds with the international treaty banning these weapons. Neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, transfer, use, and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

CMC global day of action marks 3 years of success for the Convention on Cluster Munitions

On 1 August 2013, Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) members from around the world celebrated three years of the Convention on Cluster Munitions’ life-saving achievements and called on countries who have not done so already, to join the global ban immediately.

Read the full story and check out the report on the CMC 1 August webpage to find out about the variety of ways cluster bomb survivors and campaigners around the world marked the global day of action.

On 1 September 2013 the Principality of Liechtenstein put into place a ban on direct and indirect investments in cluster munitions. The ban was enacted the same day Liechtenstein officially became a State Party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The Principality acceded to the Convention on 4 March 2013, followed by a mandated six-month period before the comprehensive ban on cluster munitions entered into force. The country is the ninth in the world to ban financial investments in cluster bombs, through national legislation.

Currently, nine states have taken legislative measures to prohibit investments in cluster munitions and 27 countries have made interpretive statements indicating that investments in cluster munitions are or can be seen as prohibited by the Convention on Cluster Munitions. During the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Lusaka (Zambia), Ghana spoke out for the first time on disinvestment declaring that it considers investments to be prohibited by the Convention. Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland also made statements reiterating their position and status with regards to their national legislation on disinvestment. For more information, see the summary on disinvestment on the 4MSP CMC website.

International Campaign to Ban Landmines News

International campaign urges no use of antipersonnel landmines in Syria

Antipersonnel landmines, an indiscriminate weapon banned by more than three-quarters of the world, should not be used by any actor in the Syrian conflict, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate, urged in a 4 October statement.

The ICBL welcomed Syria’s accession to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention on 14 September 2013 and with it the obligation to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons. This is a step in the right direction but Syria should not stop there. The government needs to cease its use of all weapons banned by international humanitarian law, including antipersonnel mines, cluster munitions, and air-dropped incendiary weapons used in concentrations of civilians.

ICBL gravely concerned about use of antipersonnel mines by Nagorno-Karabakh

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is deeply disturbed by recent information indicating that the army of Nagorno-Karabakh is actively laying antipersonnel mines. The ICBL has called on the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh to immediately halt this new use of antipersonnel mines and to remove all mines that have been emplaced. States Parties to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty should condemn this use and encourage an immediate cessation to mine laying, ICBL says.

Workshop in Tajikistan to finalize mine clearance operations

On 17-18 September Monitor Researcher Mike Kendellen represented the ICBL at the EU/ISU Workshop on Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The purpose of the workshop was to review Tajikistan’s progress in meeting its Article 5 2020 clearance deadline. The over 50 participants included the European Union, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), UNDP, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Tajikistan Mine Action Center, various government offices and the three demining operators in Tajikistan: Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), FSD and the United Sappers of Tajikistan.

The workshop focused on survey needs, capacity as well as national ownership, land release methodology and the technical challenges in clearance operations.

Data shared at the workshop indicates Tajikistan has a larger remaining landmine problem than previously reported as well as identifying future funding gaps the government will need to address. Tajikistan is expected to have a draft plan for clearance completion available for comment by the 13th Meeting of States Parties. The plan will be finalized by States Parties at the Convention’s Third Review Conference, taking place in Maputo, Mozambique in June 2014.

ICBL visits Taiwan to celebrate landmine clearance achievements

(C) Eden Social Welfare Foundation

An International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) delegation visited Taiwan to attend a series of “Love-Courage-Hope” activities, hosted by local campaign “Eden Social Welfare Foundation”, in celebration of the clearance of all marked minefields in Taiwan in June 2013.

Nearly 110,000 landmines and unexploded ordnance have been cleared by Taiwan. Although Taiwan is not a signatory to the international Mine Ban Treaty owing to its international status, it did enact the Antipersonnel Landmine Regulations Act on 14 June, 2006, which required the government to clear all landmines within seven years (but allows it to retain the right to use landmines).

As of June 2013, the Ministry of National Defense R.O.C. (MND) declared clearance of all known minefields on outlying islands. To mark this event, Eden Social Welfare Foundation hosted a series of activities, including an international seminar on the mine ban in Taiwan with the participation of high ranking officers from MND, ICBL representatives and campaigners, and a walk through the cleared minefields in Kinmen in commemoration of those who were injured or killed by landmines.

Other News

Governments meet in Brisbane to identify a road map for a Pacific free of unexploded ordnance

From 27-29 June 2013, Pacific Island States, including those affected by World War II ordnance, joined representatives from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, along with civil society and mine action agencies, to identify a road map for a Pacific free of unexploded ordnance.

The Pacific Regional ERW Workshop was jointly hosted by ICBL-CMC member organization Safe Ground (recently renamed from the Australian Network to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions), and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat with support from Australian Government Overseas Aid Program.

Survivors bring crucial voice for victim's rights and full implementation of Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions

Victims of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war have been at the heart of campaign and advocacy efforts since the founding of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and subsequently, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). There are at least 25 ICBL-CMC national and local survivor networks whose members are strong national advocates for all aspects of the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In response to requests from national campaigns, and with support from Norway, the ICBL-CMC created the Survivor Network Project in 2012, to provide targeted financial and technical support to survivor networks.

Bangkok Symposium on enhancing cooperation and assistance

What do we know about funding dedicated to assisting victims of landmine and cluster munitions? How can states exchange knowledge at the regional level to increase their ability to deal with the clearance of landmines and cluster munition remnants in the best possible manner? To answer those questions, experts and government representatives gathered in Bangkok (Thailand) in June for two days of discussion on how to enhance cooperation among states and other stakeholders to better the lives of people in areas affected by landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war.

ICBL-CMC would like to acknowledge the work of the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines (JCBL), and their role on the Governance Board. JCBL, one of longest established campaigns among the network, stepped down as ICBL-CMC Governance Board member at the end of September, due to internal adjustments.

While JCBL is no longer an ICBL-CMC board member, ICBL-CMC looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines.

KEY DATES TO LOOK OUT FOR:

7 October – 5 November: UN General Assembly First Committee (disarmament), 68th Session, New York

National Campaign News

Afghanistan: Afghan Landmine Survivors' Organisation (ALSO)

ALSO, in cooperation with the advocacy committee for the rights of persons with disability members and the Department of Mine Clearance (DMC), participated in a live roundtable interview on Arianna TV. ALSO members urged the government to take bold steps for effective implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions during the interview, which took place on 20 August 2013 and marked the third anniversary of Convention’s entry into force.

Canada: Handicap International (HI)

Handicap International Canada organized its 7th Pyramid of Shoes in Montreal on Saturday 28 September. Under a generous sun, people mobilized against landmines and cluster bombs through various activities such as demining workshops, a “rehabilitation path,” petition signing, wheelchair basketball matches, and a Facebook “deminer photo booth.”

Around 30 volunteers made this event a great success; 80 Facebook deminer pics were posted; more than 650 signatures were gathered; and lots of media coverage received. Watch some of the events from the day here (in French): http://bit.ly/GZLmDv

Canada: Mines Action Canada (MAC)

From 9-13 September, Mines Action Canada was in Lusaka, Zambia, with the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) for the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

In addition to discussing progress on ending the suffering caused by cluster munitions with governments and other organizations, MAC sponsored five young campaigners to attend the meeting. In total, seven young campaigners from Afghanistan, Brazil, DR Congo, Nepal, Norway, and Spain participated in the Meeting of States Parties.

These new campaigners joined MAC staff to evaluate and plan the next phase of the Youth Leadership, Education and Action Program. Young members of Handicap International’s Ban Advocate team also participated in the discussions to strengthen the link between campaigners in the two programs and to find ways to collaborate in the future. The young campaigners also assisted with side-events and media outreach as well as participating in advocacy efforts and meetings with governments.

MAC staff also filmed a roundtable discussion of mine clearance experts from Mines Advisory Group and Norwegian People’s Aid guided by questions from the Youth to Youth (Y2Y) Network – the video is being edited and will be shared with the Y2Y Network upon completion.

Chile: Centro Zona Minada

In August, Chilean campaigners attended a presentation by Rodrigo Hinzpeter, the Minister of Defence, on the law of reparation and rehabilitation of victims of landmines, and other unexploded ordnance, UXOs and cluster munitions.

The legislative bill proposed in October is a key step for Chilean victims. The law would provide financial compensation, the right to and replacement of prosthetics, reimbursement of medical expenses, and funeral grants. The legislation would also allow victims to enroll in the Register of Victims of Military Explosives, and certification of disability.

Civil society, including a range of victim and survivor groups and a voluntary team of lawyers and medical doctors, have been sharing their experience as well as documentation and testimonies, and consultation is ongoing. The different survivor groups in Chile do not currently agree with some of the provisions of the proposed draft bill, and await the opportunity to further input in the legislative process, especially with regards to benefits for victims.

Colombia: Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCCM)

On 28-29 September 2013, close to 100 survivors gathered to form the Association of Survivors of Landmines, Unexploded Devices and the Armed Conflict in Arauca, Colombia. The association will help ensure prevention training on the issue of landmines; work for the rights of survivors; and form a collective undertaking activities that generate income and providing care and support for victims.

Meeting participants included key representatives from the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCCM), a lawyer, and psychologists from Handicap International (HI).

Through the meeting, a number of factors were identified as barriers preventing victims of landmines from accessing care. These included lack of awareness and training in prevention, care and rights, limited attention given in health facilities, lack of pycho-social support, and the high cost of medication.

El Salvador: Jesús Martínez

On 23 September, the United Nations General Assembly convened the High-level Meeting on Disability and Development (HLMDD) titled “The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.” Ahead of the meeting ICBL-CMC spoke with campaigner and victim assistance advocate, Jesús Martínez, on the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for all persons with disabilities, including landmine and cluster munition survivors.

France: Handicap International (HI)

Handicap International’s (HI) 19th Pyramid of Shoes took place on 28 September in around 30 cities across France. This annual event is aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing interest around landmines and cluster munitions, for the general public (particularly young people), media and policy-makers. Members of the public were invited to build a Pyramid of Shoes in support of landmine and cluster munition victims as well as to learn more about the issues through clearance demonstrations and exhibitions.

Over 50,000 people signed a petition urging all States to join the lifesaving conventions banning landmines and cluster munitions and for governments to immediately contribute to clearance and victim assistance efforts. More than 4,000 volunteers were mobilized throughout France for the event, which was attended by tens of thousands of visitors and gained wide media attention.

In Paris, Raed Mokaled, an HI Ban Advocate and father of a cluster bomb victim from Lebanon, attended the shoe pyramid as a special guest. Mokaled shared his story with the Parisian public, and called for continued advocacy for the global bans on landmines and cluster munitions.

India: Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines & Cluster Munitions

As part of a youth exchange program, Martina Ruth Rehm from International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in Germany, visited the Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions in August 2013 for a two-month placement. In addition to describing the role and status of Germany in the banning of landmines and cluster munitions, Martina also spoke with her Indian counterparts on disarmament, and advocating for India’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Iraq: Iraq Alliance of Disabled Organisations (IADO)

IADO continues to work with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Iraq Mine Action, Ministry of Environment, and provincial government to advocate on the issue of landmines and cluster munitions, and particularly on implementation of comprehensive victim assistance legislation.

On 4 July, IADO met with the Director of Iraq Mine Action (DMA), along with a representative from UNICEF and the Director of Media at the Ministry of Environment to discuss progress made on a database of survivors in several provinces which could aid in the collection of statistics and help survivors access job opportunities, loans, and prosthetics support. IADO is advocating for a country-wide survivor database. The organization is also pushing for development of accessible infrastructure for all persons with disabilities and the continued engagement and participation of survivors in the national discourse around landmines and cluster munitions.

The Iraq Mine Action (DMA) has reportedly announced cash grants for landmine and cluster munition survivors seeking to get married.

Laos: Handicap International Laos Ban Advocates

Handicap International and the Lao Ban Advocates, together with the National Regulatory Authority for Unexploded Ordnance/Mine Sector (UXO-NRA) organized an event to celebrate the third anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The event included exhibitions illustrating the UXO situation in Lao, presented by different organizations. Handicap International was present with an exhibition entitled Trust Me; I’m a Survivor, along with a photographic exhibition of their work in Lao PDR.

Ban Advocate Mr. Bounmy Vichack, spoke on his experience as a victim of cluster munitions and the needs of survivors in Lao PDR as well as those from other countries. He called on the government to provide more support to the victims of UXO, and for continued international cooperation and assistance to support the Laos government in doing so.

On 20 June 2013 the National Defense Committee of the Korean Parliament held a public hearing on special legislation regarding compensation for civilian mine victims in the country. During the hearing, Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines (KCBL) Coordinator, Jai-kook Cho and landmine survivor Jong-soo Kim delivered statements emphasizing the importance of the legislation.

While many law makers present at the hearing agreed on the necessity of providing adequate compensation for civilian mine victims, government officials pointed to legislative challenges hindering the process.

In support of the special legislation and as a reminder of the hardship experienced by survivors, the KCBL staged the exhibition, “Peace Sharing” for civilian landmine victims. The exhibition was shown at a number of venues engaging a range of audiences including provincial assembly members and officials, parliamentarians, public figures, students and landmine survivors.

“Did you know your National Pension Fund is funding illegal weapons?” This is the title of a recent campaign by South Korea’s Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) member Weapon Zero and partners. Weapon Zero is targeting the National Pension Service of Korea (NPS) as South Korea’s largest investor in cluster munitions producers. The campaign aims to cease NPS’s investment in companies producing this lethal weapon. South Korea hosts two cluster munition producers, Hanwha and Poongsan.

The campaign has been calling on the South Korean government to stop investing in cluster munitions and join the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), using a range of creative mediums since 2010.

US: Lynn Bradach, Handicap International Ban Advocate (BA)

Lynn Bradach began campaigning against cluster munitions following the death of her eldest son Travis, a United States Marine, killed 2 July 2003, by a cluster submunition while clearing unexploded ordnance in Iraq. On the 10th anniversary of losing Travis, Lynn talked to the CMC about her work campaigning against this indiscriminate weapon so that other families don’t suffer the same loss.

US: Proud Students Against Landmines and Cluster Bombs (PSALM)/ West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs (WVCBL)

PSALM have been preparing for their autumn and winter awareness raising events. In addition to celebrating the International Day of Peace with art, music and community awareness presentations, students will also be participating at the West Virginia University Health Science Center on 22 October for Global Health Day. WVCBL member, Dr. Larry Schwab will give a lecture on his experiences treating landmine injuries and his work with the campaigns to ban landmines and cluster bombs.

The West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs and PSALM students invite campaigners to submit photos of their campaigns for an art exhibition to be held in West Virginia titled, "A World of Difference." The campaign seeks to illustrate the great diversity of the campaigns from all corners of the globe and the scope of the work to ban landmines and cluster bombs. If you would like to participate, please send Nora a photo with a caption and the name of the photographer so they may be credited. Please also include a mission statement, quote or description of your campaign and brief background. The photographs can range from activities to composed group photos. Photographs of the final exhibition to be held later in the year will be shared. The deadline for photo submissions is 15 December 2013.

US: Donate to the ICBL through the Combined Federal Campaign

As part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the world's largest workplace charity campaign, U.S. Federal employees can donate now to support the ICBL’s global campaign and reduce the devastating effect landmines have on thousands of communities worldwide.

Yemen: Yemen Mine Awareness Association

On 18 September 2013, the Yemen Mine Awareness Association, in collaboration with the Arab Human Rights Foundation, held a cluster munitions workshop in Yemen to raise public awareness on the dangers of cluster munitions and advocate for Yemen to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Participants in the Saana workshop included representatives from relevant government ministries, the UN Development Program, a variety of civil society disability and human rights organizations and survivors.

Outputs from the meeting included a joint letter to the National Dialogue Committee, parliament and the Presidential Office. The letter highlighted the urgency for Yemen to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, in order to access technical expertise, address clearance issues and provide assistance to victims. In addition, a committee of NGOs and government officials was formed to follow up on government steps toward Yemen’s accession to the cluster bomb ban.